Rejection: It's Christ In Me

People deal with rejection all of the time. Maybe they were turned down a job or maybe chance for a second date. Rejection strikes everyone in some way or form. But what about when it’s someone close to you? What if it’s a relative or spouse who decides to turn their back on you? I’ve dealt with the issue of being rejected in recent past and, for a long time, searched for a reason why I was rejected. I have since learned that it wasn’t ME who they’ve rejected but Christ in me! “…the Lord replied, “for it is Me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want Me to be their king any longer.” 1 Samuel 8:7 There are a lot of times that we are rejected by people not because of any bad thing we have done but instead because of our walk with God! When someone who you are close with starts to fall away from God, they are also falling away from God who is in YOU which will cause a division or a separation. These loved ones will often try to persuade you to follow in their footsteps or they will attempt to completely hide their sinful actions from you.

Jesus said in John 15:18-23: 18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you… 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father.

The Bible is clear that the world will reject you because of God in you! Also, because Christ chose us, the world rejects us. There was a time when I believed that I was rejected because of certain things I’ve done wrong or something that I had said. However, in reality, I was rejected because I would not “bend” to the will of the person wanting me to change. It later became clear that I was rejected because they didn’t want God to be their King any longer! Knowing this truth was a step in my healing process in getting over past rejections.

Even Jesus Himself was rejected! So just know that rejection from those living by the world’s standards is a sure thing when you follow Christ. Don’t take it personally. Instead, consider it a compliment that you’re on the straight and narrow!

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

By: Jason Applewhite